Timer and distributer.



W. D. C. WRIGHT.

TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6, 1014.

1,120,1 12, Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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ATTORNEYS WJD. 0. WRIGHT.

TIMER AND DISTRIBUTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 6.1914. 1,1 20, 1 1 2, Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

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ATTORNEYS TED s'rA'rEs PATENT oanion.

WILSON I). CRAIG WRIGHT, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TIJVIER AND DISTRIBUTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914..

Application filed June a, 1914. Serial No. 843,396.

To'all whom it may c0'1we1n Be it known that 1, WILSON D. CRAIG WVRiGi-i'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia'and State of Pennsylvania,

h a.ve invented certain new and useful Improvements Timers and Distributors; and I .do herebydeclares the following to be a full, clear, and exact desci'iption ..of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and ,use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of. reference marked thereon, which form cylinders with the source of generation of termittently make and break the electric circuit thereof, and successively connect the sparking terminals of a pluralityof enginesaid electric current, so as to successively ignite or explode the charges of gas in the cylinders of the engine. y

The presentinvention has for its principal object to provide a novel, simple' and effective make and break device operated in such a manner that themake and break devices can never stop in contact, and the op-v eration of the same further providing a quick making and breaking of the electric current of the same duration; as to the time of contact, at all speeds,.whether at a slow or low speed or up to the fastest or highest speed of engine operation without missing contact, and at the same time properly tim ing the make and break operation, while yet permitting the regulation or advancing or retarding of'the moment of contact relative to the piston movements in the cylinders of the engine,\the.said novel makingand breakin!g levice being adapted for use with either si gle-or multi-cylinder internal combustion engines.

Other objects of this invention not at a this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly evident from the following detailed description of the said invention.

. With the various objects of the present invention in view, the same consists, primarily, in the novel electric currenttiming and distributing mechanism hereinafter set forth; and, the invention consists, furthermore, in the novel arrangements andcomc0 binations of the various devices and the parts thereof, as Well as in the. details of the construction of the same, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied as in the clauses ofthe claim which are ap-' pended to and which form an essential part of the said specification,

The invention is clearly" illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which I I Figure l'is a diagrammatic view'of-an ignition system showing in proper electrical connection therewith the novel timing and distributing device, the latter being illustrated in side elevation, and madeaccording 7-5 to and' embodying the principles of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the novel'ti'minganddistributing mechanism; Fig. 3 is'a cross seq-f tron of the same taken on line. 3-3 in said l 1g. 2, looking in the direction of-the-arrow w, the driving gears of the make and break devices being illustrated therein'in dotted lines superimposed upon saidview'to i1h s'-- trate moreclearly the manner of operating said make and break devices; Fig; view similar to Fig. 3,but illustrating the operation of said make and break devices; Fig. 5 is a detail cross section taken on line 5 5 in said Fig. 2, said view illustrating; more particularly the distributing mechanism; and Fig. 6 is a detail plan view and part horizontal section enlarged, of the actuating members of the make and break mechanism.

Similar charactersof reference are employed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts Referring now to the several figures of the drawings, the reference character 1 indicates a casing which is adapted to contain and support the novel timing and distributing mechanism. Extending outwardly from the back 2 of said casing 1, is a centrally disposed tubular hub 3 which provided at its outer end with a reduced extension 4 adapted to receive a yoke-member or collar said member or collar being provided with L a supporting arm or bracket 6 for its con- 'back 2 of said casing 1.

connection therewith. J ournaledin said tubular hub 3, so as to rotate therein, as in a bearing, is a spindle 7 which is provided at its outer end with an enlarged head 8, the latter forming a shoulder abutting against the outer end of said reduced extension 4, and thereby preventing any longitudinal movement of said spindle ,7 in an inward direction. The said spindle 7 extends within the interior of the said casing 1, and is provided with a collar 9, suitably secured thereto, which engages the back 2 of said casing 1, so as to prevent any longitudinal nmement of said spindle 7 in an outward direction. The outer end of said spindle 7 is provided with a receiving socket oropen ing 10, adapted to receive one endj ot a counter-shaft 11, which is usually geared so as to be driven from the crank-shaft of the internal combustion engine, and whereby said spindle 7 is rotated in proper time relation to the movement or rotation of said engine crank-shaft. Said counter-shaft 11 is. secured in its properly coupled relation with said spindle 7 by means of a setscrew 12, or any other suitable fastening means. Formed "tegrally with said casing 1, and extending outwardly from the back 2 thereof is a bearing-portion 13, in which is journaled a stem 14. The inner end of said stem 14: extends into the interior of said casing, and. secured upon said inner end is a rotary cam-member 15, from the periphery of which extends a cam-point or nosing 16. Extending outwardly from the top surface of said cam-member 15 is a driving-stud 17,

the same being off set from the axis of said stem and cam-member so as to travel or rotate in a path concentric to the said axis of said stem and cam-member. The outer end of said stcm 14 is provided with acollar 14*, which prevents longitudinal play of said stem.

The reference character 18 indicates a fulcrum-post which extends into said casing 1, the same being properly positioned on the Pivotall'y mounted on said fulcrum-post 18 is the supportingblock 19 of a make and break device. Suitably secured to one side of said supportingblock 19 is an outwardly extending lever arm 20, the same being provided in a proper location with a laterally extending nosing or projection 21. Connected with the free end of said lever-arm 20 is a pull-spring 22, the opposite end of which is secured to an anchor-post 23, which pro ects inwardly from the back 2 of said casing 1. Said pullspring 22 tends to maintain said lever-arm 20 in normal initial position as stopped against a stop-post 24, which also projects inwardly ,from the back 2 of said casing 1 in a suitable location. -Secured upon the-op posite side of said supporting-block 19, is

an outwardly extending springarm 25. the

of an inherent resiliency-so that the same-- may yield when brought to a. stop before the oscillation of said lever arm 20 is completed. Secured ina proper location upon said spring-arm 25 is a contact-point 27, the same being-preferably made of plati num, or other suitable material.

The reference character 28 indicates a contact-screw which is arranged? to' extend through the wall of said casing 1 at aproper location, the same being insulated from elec trical contact with said wall by a sleeve 29 or some suitable insulating material. The exterior portion of said contact-screw 28 is provided with a knurled finger-piece 30 for adjusting the screw to regulate the position of the contact-point 31 carried by the interior end of said screw, said contact-point 31 being made of platinum, or some such suitable material. A lock-nut 32 is associated with said screw to lock the same in its de sired adjusted or regulated position, and the exterior portion of said screw is further provided with some suitable connection, such as the binding-post. 3.3, whereby a wire, over which travels the primary current of. an

electric ignition system, may be attached both electrically and mechanically in con-' nection with said contact-screw.

Secured within said casing 1, so as to extend transversely therethrough above said make and break device above described, is a supporting-plate 34, the same having a centrally disposedopening 35 through which said spindle 7. extends. Said supporting plate 34 is further provided with a properly located bearing-portion 36 in which is ]ournaled a stem 37. Secured to the lower end ing located on the under side'of said supporting-plate 34:; I The upper or opposite end of said stem 37 is provided with a suitable collar 39 which prevents longitudinal movement of said stem 37 in its bearing. Projecting downwardly from said pinion 38 is a transmission stud 40, the same being offset from the axis of said stem and pinion so as to rotate in a path concentric to the axis o-fsaid stem and pinion. Said stem 14 upon which is mounted said cam-member 15, and said stem 37 upon which is mounted the pinion 38, are so arranged as to be related .in longitudinal alinement with each other, and the driving-stud 17 of the cam-member :15 and the transmission-stud 40 of said pinion 38 are so positioned that their respective paths of rptation coincide in such a manner that when said pinion 38 is rotated the free end of said transmission-stud 40 engages the free end of said driving-stud 17, so that the rotation of the formei; transmitted to the latter. thereby causing a rotation of said camahember l5 and its stem 14-. Secured upon said spindle T is a gear-wheel 41 which meshes with and drives said pinion Pivotally mounted on said driving-stud 17 of said cam-member 15 is the hub-portion 42 of an outwardly extending tulnllar-barrcl -13, the latter being open at its outer end. Pivotally mounted upon a journal-post 4A is the hub-portion 45 of a plunger'rod US, the free end of which enters the open end of said tubular barrel -13 so as to be slidably disposed therein. A compression-spring 47 is arranged within said tubulai barri 1 -13 so as to engage the end of said plimger-rod 46. When said can'i-membcr 1:) is rotated the compression spring i? is compressed at a certain point. and the tension ol said compression-spring when released continues the rotation of said can'rmeinber 15 independently'of the transmission mechanism above described the purpose of such operation being hereinafter more particularly described.

Suitably connimled with the ()ilii'l' end of said casing l is a cylindrical casing in which is provided with a COYtFF-plalc "l t. s id casing and covei'-plate being made of a. ic suitable insulating niz-itcrial or uon-conducmr of electricity. The said co\er ,,-latc if pro- \idcd with a centrally disguised opening 50 in which is arranged a siceve 7d. provided with an annular flange c: which bears upon the inner surfaci': o i' .--';|ld cover-plate l said sleeve being furtlirr provided with an eX- ternal screw-thread 5 1' and an internal enlarged portion or chamber 54'. A chainl'iered or hollow nut-shaped body 55 is screwed upon the said external screw thread 33, against a screw-thrtndcd Washer :36 also screwed upon said smurf-thread 53, so as to be. arranged against the outer surface of said COVQIfiJltltt. 4.5). The said nut-shaped body 55 is provided with an outwardly extending portion 57, at the extreme end oi which projects a reduced screw-threaded shank 58 upon which is screwed a nut-piece my, and by means of which an electric conductor or wire may be attached thereto. Arrangei'l within the chamber 54 of said sleeve 51 the head 60 oia contaet-plug or brush l'il, and a coiled spring (52 is arranged hack of said head #30 to press said plug or brush (ll out wardlv, so as to compei the same to make electrical Contact. with certain parts of the distributing mechanism about to be de scribed. Connected with the inner free end of said spindle 7, by meanz-x of a transverse pin 33., or any other sziitahle 'lasten ng means. is a huh-n'iem l. the same being made of some suitable insulting material.

vided with a recess or socket Whichisadapted to receive the disk-portion of a metallic contact arm or brush 66, the said disk-portion being secured in any suitable manner to said hub-member, so as to turn or rotate therewith. Secured upon the inner side of said casing 48 are a plurality of contactpoints 67, the same being provided With screw threaded shanks 68 which project through and outwardly from the said casing 48, and provide in connection with nutmembers 69, suitable binding-posts to which are secured the wires or electrical conductors 70 which lead to spark-plugs arranged within the cylinders of the internal combustion engine, in the usual manner. Said brush 66, when rotating successively contacts with the respective contact-points G7, to successively distribute to the spark-plugs of the internal combustion engine, the electrical current for producing the ignition spark. The previ ously described plug or brush 61 is adapted to make contact with said contact-arm or brush -66.

The reference character 71 indicates a battery or other source of electrical energy, and the reference character 72 indicates an induction or spark-coil, the respective bindingposts '73 of the primary circuit of which are respectively connected with the said battery T1 and said contact screw Qfi, by means of the primary circuit wires 74, the completed primary circuit being made through ground and the conductor wire 71* leading back to the battery 71. The binding-post of the sec ndary circuit of said coil 72 is connected, by means of the conductor Wire 76. with the screw-threaded shank 58 forming the binding-post of the contact-mechanism of said plug or brush 61, whereby the secondary or induced current of said sparkcoil is passed into said contact-arm or brush (36 and finally distributed to the spark-ten minals or plugs in the cylinders of the internal combustion engine.

llaring thus described the general and deta l. construction of my now] timer and distributor for electric ignition systems I will now briefly set forth its use and operation.

The battery 71 generates the. electric current and delivers the same through the wire conductor 74 and the primary circuit of the spark-coil 72 into the contactscrcw Q8 The spindle 7 being rotated in proper time and speed relation by the crankshaft oi an internal combustion engine, causes a rotation of said gear-wlu-el il which in turn rotates said pinion The rotation of said pinion 38 causes said transmission stud 4!) to travel in its path of rotation as indicated by the arrows in said Figs. 1'), 4 and (i. As said transniission-stud 40 thus rotates it is carried. in ngagei'nent with the end at mm thereupon drives said driving-stud ahead of it, and consequently causes a rotation of said cam-member 15. The rotation of said driving-stud carries upwardly said tubularbarrel 43, thereby sliding the same upon said plungerrod 46, and since the tubularbarrel is moved toward the fulcrum of said plunger-rod, the end of the latter moves inwardly in the former thereby compressing said compression-spring 47. As the drivingstu d reaches that point in its travel which is its nearest approach to the fulcrum of said plunger-rod 46 the compression-spring 47 is compressed to its highest tension, and since the tubular-barrel 43 is fulcrumed on said driving-stud 17, and the plunger-rod 46 is fulcrumed on the stationary post 44, the same point in the travel of said driving-stud constitutes the dead-center of oscillation of said tubular-member 43 and plunger-rod 46, and after that point is reached the tubular-member and plunger-rod no longer tend to move toward each other or to ether, but when that point is passed tent to move away from each other or separate. The transmission-stud 40 engages said drivingstud 17 and moves the same until it has been carried to said point or dead-center, but immediately said point r dead-center is passed the tension of the compressionspring 47, gaining its purchase the end of said plunger-rod 46 upon said tubular-barrcl 43, same outwardly, and thereby tends to push driving the forcing said cam-member 15 to quickly complete its rotation independently of and ahead of the transmission-stud 40. This quick or sudden rotation of the cam-member 15, under the action of said compressioil-spring 47, -car ries said nosing or cam-point 16 very quickly into and out of engagement with the nosing or projection 21 of said lever-arm 20 of said make and break device. This passing engagement of the cam-point 16 and nosing or rojection 21 causes an oscillation of said lever-arm 20 and consequently of said spring-arm 25 whereby the contact point 27 of the latter is carried quickly into and out of electrical contact with said contact-screw 28, thus complc ting the primary circuit of the. spark-coil and battery through ground. This contact is short as to duration and is always of thesame duration at all speeds. It will also be apparent that it is impossible to stop the engine or timer so that the electrical contacts will be in engagement or closed contact, since the spring actuation of said cam-member 15 whereby its rotation is completed always carries the cam-point 16 in and out of contact with the projection 21 of thelever-arm, so that the cam-member 15 is always returned to a normal initial osition is illustrated in Fig. 1 of the draw ngs, therdfore the lever-arm 20 as controlled by itss'firing'is always under or base upon all circumstances returned to its normal initial position, whereby the spring-arm 25 and contact-point 27 is always carried out ,of contact with said contact-screw :28 immediately after the brief electrical contact has been made. It will be apparent also that given the proper ratio of gearing, as between the driving gear-wheel 41 and the pinion 38, any desired number of contacts per revolution of the crank-shaft of an internal combustion engine can be caused, thereby adapting the timer easily to any number of engine cylinders.

In a four cycle engine the timer is usually driven at one-half engine crank-shaft speed, and in a two-cycle engine it is driven at engine crank-shaft speed. In a four cylinder fourcycle engine the ratio of the gearing 41 and 38, therefore, would be four to one so that the pinion 38 would be rotated four times to the single rotation of the gearwheel 41, and consequently the cam-member 15 would be operated to cause four successive electrical contacts, whereas in a two cylinder engine, of the four cycle type, the gearing ratio would be two to one. In a two cycle engine, the timer being driven at engine speed, and requiring a spark for each engine cylinder per revolution, the gearing ratio would then be exactly proportional to the number of cylinders.

The secondary current induced in the coil 72 is delivered through the conductor 76 to the mechanism of the brush 61, the latter delivering the same to the contact-arm 66 which distributes the current to the proper spark-plug, as hereinabove indicated, and in a manner clearly to be understood by those skilled in the art of constructing electric ignition systems for internal combustion engines.

From the foregoing description of the present invention, it will be clearly apparent that changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of said parts, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the foregoing specification and as defined in the clauses of the claim which are appended thereto. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts as herein set forth, and as illustrated in the'accompanying drawings, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts.

I claim 1. In a device of the kind described, a stationary contact, a movable contact adapted to be moved intermittently into engagement with said stationary contact, a rotatable cam-memberfor actuating said movable contact, a driving-stud projecting from said cam-member, a spring means connected with said driving-stud for rotating cammember into and out of operative engagement with said movable contact, and a rotary means for engaging the end of said driving-stud to propel the same and partially rotate said cam-member for the purpose of inducing the actuating tension of said spring-means prior to its operation.

2. In a device of the kind described, a stationary contact, a movable contact adapted to be moved intermittently into engagement with said stationary contact, a rotatable cam-member for actuating said movable contact, a driving-stud projecting from said cam-member, a spring-means connected with said driving-stud for rotating said cam-member into and out of operative en= gagement with said movable contact, and a rotary means for engaging the end of said driving-stud to propel the same and partially rotate said cam-member for the purpose of inducing the actuating tension of said spring-means prior to its operation, said rotary means comprising a rotatable element, means for driving said element, and a transmission-stud proiecting from said element and having a path of rotation coincident to the path of rotation of said driving-stud, said transmission-stud being carried into propelling engagement with said driving-stud by the rotation of said element.

3. In a device of the kind described. a stationary contact. a movable contact adapted to be moved intermittently into engagement with said stationary contact. a rotatable cam-member for actuating said movable contact. a driving-stud proiecting from said cam-member. a spring means connected with said driving-stud for rotating cammember into and out of operative engagement-with said movable contact, and a rotarv means for engaging the end of said driving-stud to propel the same and partially rotate said cam-member for the purpose of inducing the actuating tension of said spring-means prior to its operation, said rotary means comprising a pinion, a spindle. a gear-wheel on said spindle adapted to mesh with and drive said pinion, and a transmission-stud proiectiug from said pinion and having a path of rotation coincident to the path of rotation of said driving-stud. said transmission-stud being carried into propelling engagement with the free end of said driving-stud by the rotation of said pinion.

4. In a device of the kind described. a stationary contact, a movable contact adapted to be intermittently .moved into engagement with said stationary contact, a rotatable cam-member for actuating said movable contact. a driving-stud proiecting from said cam-member, and offset from the axis of said cam-member so as to travel in a path concentric to said axis, a tubular-member pivotally connected with said drivingstud, a stationary fulcrum-post, a plunger-rod pivotally connected with said fulcrum-post, the outer end of said plunger-rod entering the outer end of said tubular-member so as to be slidably disposed therein, a compression-spring Within said tubular-member and engaging the end of said plunger-rod, and a rotary means for engaging the free end of said driving-stud to propel the same and artially rotate said cam-member where y said tubular-member and said plunger-rod are moved together to compress said compression-spring so'that when the dead center of oscillation of said plungerrod and tubular-barrel is passed said spring will move said tubular-member and pistonrod apart to thereby complete the rotation of said cam-member and carry the same into and out of actuating engagement with said movable contact and, back to its normal initial position.

5. In a device of the kind described, astationary contact, a movable contact adapted to be intermittently moved into engagement with said stationary contact, a rotatable cam-member for actuating saidmovable contact, a driving-stud projecting from said cam-member, and offset from the axis of said cam-member so as to travel in a path concentric to said axis. a tubular mem- 1 er pivotally connected with said drivingstu'd, a stationary fulcrum-post, a plungerrod pivotally connected with said fulcrumpost, the outer end of said plunger-rod entering the outer end of said tubular-member so as to be slidably disposed therein, a compression-spring within said tubularmember and engaging the end of said plunger-rod, and a rotary means for engaging the free end of said driving-stud to propel the same and partially rotate said cam-member whereby said tubular-member and said plunger red are moved together to compress said compression-spring so that when the dead center of oscillation of said plunger'rod and tubular-barrel is passed said spring will move said tubular-member and piston-rod apart to thereby complete the rotation of said cam-member and carry the same into and out of actuating engagement with said movable contact and back to its normal ini tial position, said rotary means comprising I ed to be intermittently moved into engagement with said stationary contact, a rot-at'able cam-member for actuating said movable contact, a driving-stud projecting from said cam-member, and offset from the axis of said cam-member so as to travel in a path concentric to said axis, a tubular memer 'pivotally connected with said drivingstud, a stationary fulcrum-post, a plungerrod pivotally connected with said fulcrumpost, the outer end of said plunger-rod entering the outer end of said tubular-member so as to be slidably disposed therein, a compression-spring within said tubular-member and engaging the end of said plungerrod, and a rotary means for engaging thefree end of said driving-stud to propel the same and partially rotate said cam-member whereby said tubular-member and said plunger-rod are moved together to compress said compression-spring so that when the dead center of oscillation of said plungerrod and tubular-barrel is passed said spring will move said tubular-member and pistonrod apart to thereby complete the rotation of said cam-member and carry the same into and out of actuating engagement with said movable contact and back to its normal initial position, said rotary means comprising a pinion, a spindle; a gear-wheel on said spindle adapted to mesh with and drive said pinion, and a transmission-stud projecting from said pinion and having a path of rotation coincident to the path of rotation of said driving-stud, said transmission-stud being carried into propelling engagement with the free end of said drivingstud by the rotation of said pinion.

7. In a device of the kind described, a casing, an adjustable contact-screw, adap ed to vbe connected with a primary electric circuit and mounted in said casing but insulated from electrical contact therewith, a movable contact making and breaking device comprising a supporting block, a fulcrum-post upon which said supporting-block is pivoted, a lever-arm secured to said supporting-block provided with a laterally extending nosing, a spring-arm also secured to said supporting-block and provided with a contact point adapted to be moved intermittently into contact with said contactscrew by the oscillation of said lever-arm and spring-arm, a stop-post, a spring for retaining said lever-arm in stopped engagement with said stop-post, a bearing formed in said casing, a stem journaled in said bearing. a rotatable cam-member having a camprojer-tion secured on said stem, a drivingstud projecting from said cam-member and oibset from the axis of said cam-member and stem so as to travel in a path concentricv to said axis. a spring means connected with said driving-stud for rotating said cammember to carry its cam-projection into and out of operative engagement with said nosing of said lever-arm to oscillate the latter, and a rotary means for engaging the end of said driving-stud to propel the same and partially rotate said cam-member to induce the actuating tension of said spring-means prior to its operation.

8. In a device of the kind described, a casing, an adjustable contact-screw adapted to be connected with a primary electric circuit and mounted in said casing but insulated from electrical contact therewith, a movable contact making and breaking device comprising a supporting block, a fulcrum-post upon which said supporting-block is pivoted, a lever-arm secured to said supportingblock provided with a laterally extending nosing, a spring-arm also secured to said supporting-block and provided with a contact-point "adapted to be moved intermittently into contact withsaid contact-screw by the oscillation of said lever-arm and spring-arm, a stop-post, a spring for retaining said lever-arm in stopped engagement with said stop-post, a bearing formed in said casing, a stem journaled in said bearing, a rotatable cam-member having a cam-projection secured on said stud, a driving-stud projecting from said cam-member and offset from the axis of said cam-member and stem so as to travel in a path concentric to said axis, a tubular-member pivotally connected with said driving-stud, a stationary fulcrum-post connected with said casing, a plunger-rod pivotally connected with said fulcrum-post, the outer end of said plunger-rod entering the outer end of said tubular-member so as to be slidably disposed therein, a compression spring within said tubular-member and engaging the end of said plunger-rod, and a rotary means engaging the free end of said driving-stud to propel the same whereby said cam-member is partially rotated and said compression-spring compressed by the consequent moving together of said tubular-member and said plunger-rod.

9. In a device of the kind described, a casing, an adjustable contact-screw adapted to be connected with a primary electric circuit and mounted in said casing but insulated from electrical contact therewith, a movable contact making and breaking device comprising a supporting block, a fulcrum-post upon which said supportingblock is pivoted, a lever-arm secured to said supporting-blmk provided with a laterally extending nosing, a spring-arm also secured to said supporting-block and provided with a contact-point adapted to be moved intermittentiy into contact with said contactscrew by the oscillation of said lever-arm and spring-aim, a stop-post, a spring for retaining said Fer-arm in stopped engagement with said op-post, a bearing formed in said casing, a stem journaled in said hearing, a rotatable cam-member having a campro ection secured on said stem, a drivingstud projecting from said cam-member and oli set from the axis of said cam-member and stem so as to travel in a path concentric to said axis, a tubular-member pivotally connected with said driving-stud, a stationary fulcrum-post connected with said casing. a plunger-rod pivotally connected with said fulcrum-post, the outer end of said plunger-rod entering the outer end of said tubular-member so as to be slidably disposed therein, a compression spring Within said tubular-member and engaging the end of said plunger-rod, and a rotary means engaging the free end of said driving-stud to propel the same whereby said cam-member is partially rotated and said compression-spring compressed by the consequent moving together of said tubular-member and said plunger-rod, said rotary means comprising a bearing, means for supporting said hearing within said casing, a stem mounted in said bearing, a pinion secured to said stem, a transmission-stud projecting from said pinion and off-set from the axis of the latter so as to travel in a path concentric to said axis, said transmission-stud having a path of movement coincident to the path of movement of said driving-stud, said transmission-stud being carried into propelling engagement with the free end of said driving-stud by the rotation of said pinion, a spindle rotatably arranged in said casing, and a gear-Wheel mounted on said spindle and adapted to mesh with said pinion to drive the same.

10. In a device of the kind described, a casing. an adjustable contact-screw adapted to be connected with a primary electric circuit and mounted in said casing but insulated from electrical contact therewith, a mmable contact making and brcaking device comprising a supporting block, a fulcrum-post upon which said supportingblock is pivoted, a lever arm secured to said supporting-block provided with a laterally extending nosing, a spring-arm also secured to said supporting-block and provided with a contact-point adapted to be moved intermittently into contact with said contactscrew by the oscillation of said lever-arm and spring-arm, a stop-post, a spring for retaining said lever-arm in stopped engagement with said stop-post, a bearing formed in said casing, a stem journaled in said hearing, a rotatable cam-member having a cam projection secured on said stem, a drivingstud projecting from said cam-member and oii'sct from the axis of said cam-member and stem so as to travel in a path concentric to said axis, a tubular-member pivotally connected With said driving-stud, a stationary fulcrunrpost connected with said casing, a plunger-rod pivotally connected with said fulcrum-post, the outer end of said plunger-rod entering the outer end of said tubular-member so as to be slidably disposed therein, a compression spring Within said tubular-member and engaging the end of said plunger-rod, and a rotary means engaging the free end of said driving-stud to propel the same whereby said cam-mem her is partially rotated and said compression-spring compressed by the consequent moving together of said tubular-member and said plunger-rod, said rotary means comprising a bearing, means for supporting said bearing Within said casing, a stem mounted in said bearing, a pinion secured to said stem, a transmission-stud projecting from said pinion and off-set from the axis of the latter so as to travel in a path concentric to saidaxis, said transmission-stud having a path of movement coincident to the path of movement of'said driving-stud,

said transmission-stud being carried into propelling engagement with the free end of said driving-stud by the rotation of said pinion, a spindle rotatably arranged in said casing, a gear-wheel mounted on said spindle and adapted to mesh with said pinlon to drive the same, and means coacting With said make and break mechanism for dis tributing a secondary electric current to the spark-plugs of an internal combustion engine.

In testimony, that I claim the inventionset forth above I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of-June, 1914.

WILSON D. CRAIG WRIGHT.

Witnesses:

Lonnnzo J. RILEY. H. A. TUMELTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O." 

